63 secondary school students arrested in Kisii, Murang’a over arson attacks

Police are holding 63 students from three schools in Kisii and Murang’a counties in connection with arson attacks.

At Tabaka Boys High School in Kisii County, quick action by villagers saved 50 students who were locked in a dormitory before it was set on fire.

Firefighters were forced to break the dormitory door to save the students.

At least 19 boys were arrested over the incident.

Over 70 students spent the night in the cold in the Wednesday night incident.

Gucha South District Education Officer Nehemiah Ontere told the Nation that it was evident some of the students intended to harm their colleagues.

“It is clear that these students were determined to burn their colleagues in the dormitory, which they had locked. It is by sheer luck that firefighters and villagers arrived at the school in time and saved them,” he said.

He called for vigilance in the wake of arson attacks in schools.

Police also arrested 22 students from Riosiri Secondary School after two dormitories were burnt on Thursday night.

The 7.30 pm incident displaced over 130 male students.

In Murang’a, 22 students from Iyego Secondary School spent the night at the Kangema Police Station after they were arrested for attempted arson.

Kangema OCPD Cosmas Washang’oka said police found two bottles of paraffin after arresting the students.

He said the school principal called the police after receiving information that the students were planning to go on strike.

Police were deployed to the school and kept vigil. At night, police noticed movements in the compound and on checking, they saw some students, who started pelting them with stones when the officers confronted them.

He said the students will be charged with attempted arson.Students at Riosiri Secondary School in Kisii County check their boxes after a fire razed a dormitory there on July 22, 2016.
By Eddie Mwerekande